David Levinthal: Curveball: Sports & American Myths  

Schmidt Center Gallery 
On View: January 11 – March 23, 2024  
Opening Reception: January 11, 2024, 6:30 pm

 

Artists: David Levinthal

Chief Curator: Véronique Côté

Assistant Curator: Mariá Alcala Barceló

Populated with toy figurines of quintessential sports icons, this exhibit of large-format Polaroid photographs captures some of the most iconic moments in the history of baseball through the lens of celebrated artist David Levinthal's signature dioramas. Paired with historical artifacts from the Avron B. Fogelman collection and loans from local historian Danny Phillips, this exhibit looks at the inspiring place held by baseball within American culture. Fundamentally, Levinthal is a collector. He gathers Americana-toys and tchotchkes representing American identity-and photographs them in constructed worlds. He meticulously pursues archetypal topics from his childhood that he examines with analytical research reinforced by his education at Sanford, Yale, and MIT.

Images (top to bottom): Picture 1 (Left to Right): Homestead Grays Josh Gibson replica jersey, Birmingham Black Barons Satchel Paige replica jersey, Indianapolis Clowns Toni Stone replica jersey

Picture 2 (Left to Right): David Levinthal, "Ozzie Smith" Untitled from the series Baseball, 2003, 20"x24", Polaroid Polacolor ER Land Film, David Levinthal, "Joe DiMaggio" Untitled from the series Baseball, 2003, 20"x24", Polaroid Polacolor ER Land Film, David Levinthal, "Babe Ruth" Untitled from the series Baseball, 2003, 20"x24", Polaroid Polacolor ER Land Film, David Levinthal, "Don Laisen/Yogi Berra" Untitled from the series Baseball, 2004, 20"x24", Polaroid Polacolor ER Land Film.